Republican hardliner Steve Scalise drops out of House speaker race

House unable to govern, with next steps uncertain, after Louisiana congressman fails to secure his party's support

The Republican congressman Steve Scalise is ending his bid to become the US House speaker after failing to secure enough votes to win the gavel.

I just shared with my colleagues that I'm withdrawing my name as a candidate for speaker-designee," Scalise said as he emerged from the closed-door meeting at the Capitol, where he first informed fellow Republican colleagues of his decision.